poleaxe

American  

[pohl-aks] / ˈpoʊlˌæks /

noun

plural

poleaxes, poleaxed, poleaxing

1. variant of poleax.

---

poleaxe British  

/ ˈpəʊlˌæks /

noun

1. another term for battle-axe

2. a former naval weapon with an axe blade on one side of the handle and a spike on the other

3. an axe used by butchers to slaughter animals

---

verb

1. (tr) to hit or fell with or as if with a poleaxe

Etymology

Origin of poleaxe

C14 pollax battle-axe, from _poll + _axe

Example Sentences

But all of that is merely the amuse-bouche to the main appeal that “Veep” offers—pure, unadulterated cynicism, offered sparingly in 30-minute doses so as not to poleaxe its audience.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2015

There were poached rabbits on strings swung around heads, bigger and bigger swords pointed until the hysterical Olivia staggers out with a poleaxe and Rylance-style, usurps them all.

From The Guardian • Oct. 12, 2012

"Ser Rodrik should teach me to use a poleaxe. If I had a poleaxe with a big long haft, Hodor could be my legs. We could be a knight together."

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

A weapon somewhat resembling a hand poleaxe, much used in boarding an enemy, as it is not only effective in combat, but useful in holding on, and in cutting away fasts and rigging when required.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

I don't know what we should have done without you, for I never seed man handle a little poleaxe as you did that same affair of your'n.

From Guy Rivers: A Tale of Georgia by Simms, William Gilmore